UFC great Robert Whittaker has suffered a split decision defeat to Reinier de Ridder in the headline fight in Abu Dhabi.
Australian Whittaker (26-9 MMA, 17-7 UFC) came up short in two of the three judges' eyes, who scored the 185-pound (83.9kg) middleweight bout 48-47 for de Ridder, while a third had it 48-47 for Whittaker on Saturday.
"I don't want to fight anyone like this man again," de Ridder, ranked No.13 in the division, said of the No.5-ranked Whittaker.